DARLINGTON are back in action at The Arena on Saturday after a gruelling run of three successive away games.

But the players should need no motivation for this weekend’s game, as they are taking on local rivals York City - and trying to impress enough to earn a starting place at Wembley.

With Quakers out of the play-off chase - though York have a chance - the players are trying to make sure they make their case to play in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley on May 7.

“There are probably seven or eight of them who pick themselves for Wembley, the other places are up for grabs,” said manager Mark Cooper.

“We must approach games in the right manner, do things properly and if we play to our ability then well have a better chance of winning.”

York beat Quakers in the FA Cup in November, but after that Darlington rallied and reached the Trophy Final, where they will face Mansfield.

There are just four league games left - after York the side travels to Southport on Monday - so a long hard season is coming towards an end, but the manager wants all the players fit and firing come the big date next month.

“We would like to win our last four league games,” he said, though he will be without Chris Senior tomorrow, as the striker has a calf strain.

Midfielder Gary Smith completes a three match ban, in which he has been able to rest injuries, and he could be a key figure in the remaining games, and Wembley.

More than 6,200 Darlington fans have snapped up Wembley tickets, while Mansfield have already sold over 10,000 with the big game still more than a fortnight away.

Darlington are offering free match tickets for the last two home games of the season, for fans who pay for their season tickets now.

Quakers chairman Raj Singh is issuing the incentive to get season ticket holders on board sooner rather than later, while also hoping to boost attendances for the final two home games of the season, against York City and Rushden and Diamonds.

Darlington agreed not to process payments for those who have already pledged to buy a 2011-12 season ticket until June. Fans who are willing to pay for them before Saturday’s match at home to York will be given two free tickets for both the York and Rushden games.

MANAGER Mark Cooper saluted a dynamic second half display from his Darlington side as they ripped up the form book to win 2-1 at Kidderminster on Tuesday.

Quakers headed into the game on the back of a disappointing weekend defeat to lowly Hayes & Yeading but ended Harriers’ 15-match unbeaten run with goals from Jamie Chandler and Chris Moore.

Moore and Tommy Wright both sparked things up after coming off the bench and Cooper said: “We made a couple of changes and by pure desire and determination we changed the result.”